The Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR), popularly known as the International Antarctic Committee, is a non-government, multidisciplinary organisation comprising scientists from around the world responsible for applying international research programmes to coordinate and promote scientific research in Antarctica, to protect its environment, and to lend independent technical assistance to the International Antarctic Treaty.

The Committee was founded thirty-five years ago by the International Council for Science to coordinate research work in the Antarctic, to preserve the area as a reserve for peace and research, and to make it into a heritage for all mankind.

Countries that run their own research programmes in Antarctica are full members of the Committee. Thirty two countries make up the group to date, alongside six associate countries, who have yet to have their own scientific programme but are planning to have one in the future.

Administratively, the Antarctic Committee has a Permanent Secretariat at the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge (UK). The executive committee -the organisation´s main governing body- at present comprises scientists from Brazil, Chile, South Africa, the United Kingdom, France and the United States. Argentina and Chile have also played a key role in Antarctic research. Both countries have a large number of Antarctic bases, and part of their territory is in the Antarctic continent.

Spain acquired full membership of the Committee in 1987 after ratifying the Antarctica Treaty in 1982. By virtue of this Treaty, signatories take on a commitment to declare the continent of Antarctica an area dedicated to peace and science, where priority is given to international co-operation, information exchange and research.

Spain boasts its own National Research Programme in Antarctica. The modern, polar-capacity oceanographic research vessel, the Hesperides, and the Juan Carlos I and Gabriel de Castilla Antarctic Bases, on Livingston and Deception island respectively, are Spain´s three Antarctic springboards, from where some hundred or so Spanish scientists a year carry out their work during the Southern Hemisphere´s summer, in coordination with researchers from abroad.

Antarctica is seen as one of the most extraordinary and representative examples of the world´s natural heritage, and the Scientific Committee as one of the most significant and successful exponents of international cooperation.